WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.327 --> 00:00:02.227 My name is Bill Richards. 2 00:00:02.227 --> 00:00:07.019 I am a musician and a teacher in the Washington D.C. area. 3 00:00:07.019 --> 00:00:10.541 line:15% When I was finishing up my undergraduate work at Temple, 4 00:00:10.541 --> 00:00:14.204 line:15% I won the audition for the United States Army Band. 5 00:00:14.204 --> 00:00:17.537 line:15% And we moved down to Washington in 1977. 6 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:21.493 line:15% So, that was my first playing job. 7 00:00:23.572 --> 00:00:25.515 Once I got down there and established, 8 00:00:25.515 --> 00:00:27.709 I started to take on some private students 9 00:00:27.709 --> 00:00:31.067 line:15% and have been doing that ever since. 10 00:00:31.067 --> 00:00:34.150 line:15% I retired from the Army Band in 1997. 11 00:00:37.784 --> 00:00:39.088 line:15% During my time with the band 12 00:00:39.088 --> 00:00:41.264 and what I continue to do today, 13 00:00:41.264 --> 00:00:45.122 is work as a freelance musician around Washington D.C. 14 00:00:45.122 --> 00:00:47.705 In 2000, I also took on the job 15 00:00:48.562 --> 00:00:51.684 of percussion instructor at Howard University. 16 00:00:51.684 --> 00:00:54.515 Two to three days at Howard. 17 00:00:54.515 --> 00:00:58.608 The other days I would teach at my house. 18 00:00:58.608 --> 00:01:02.697 Amongst all that, again, I am a freelance musician now. 19 00:01:02.697 --> 00:01:07.632 Last week, I performed with the Washington Ballet. 20 00:01:07.632 --> 00:01:11.549 line:15% We had seven performances and three rehearsals. 21 00:01:13.355 --> 00:01:15.323 line:15% That was quite a busy week. 22 00:01:15.323 --> 00:01:19.570 line:15% This week, I have two concerts this weekend in the district. 23 00:01:19.570 --> 00:01:20.913 When I would get the email, 24 00:01:20.913 --> 00:01:23.596 the first thing I do is I go down and check my book, 25 00:01:23.596 --> 00:01:26.763 my date book, to see if I'm available. 26 00:01:28.819 --> 00:01:31.931 If I'm available, I'll respond and they will say, 27 00:01:31.931 --> 00:01:36.859 "Okay. Someone will be in touch with you regarding music." 28 00:01:36.859 --> 00:01:39.827 And if I know the repertoire and I know who's on the job, 29 00:01:39.827 --> 00:01:42.540 it's pretty easy to figure out what I'll be playing. 30 00:01:42.540 --> 00:01:47.501 Then, the process begins, as far as the preparation. 31 00:01:47.501 --> 00:01:50.880 So the ballet that we just finished 32 00:01:50.880 --> 00:01:54.774 line:15% took place in the Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center. 33 00:01:54.774 --> 00:01:56.702 line:15% And the group that we were working with 34 00:01:56.702 --> 00:02:01.702 line:15% was the Washington Ballet and they do not own equipment. 35 00:02:01.996 --> 00:02:05.054 They asked me to bring everything, 36 00:02:05.054 --> 00:02:09.054 which involved three tympany, concert bass drum, 37 00:02:11.303 --> 00:02:12.970 cymbals, snare drum, 38 00:02:15.567 --> 00:02:17.984 and a set of orchestra bells. 39 00:02:19.525 --> 00:02:23.111 So, that was my responsibility for that. 40 00:02:23.111 --> 00:02:26.111 Not this week, but next week, I'm also doing a ballet week, 41 00:02:26.111 --> 00:02:30.243 line:15% but that's with a touring company, the Mariinski Ballet. 42 00:02:30.243 --> 00:02:34.209 line:15% And that is in the opera house of the Kennedy Center. 43 00:02:34.209 --> 00:02:37.249 line:15% That orchestra does have their own equipment. 44 00:02:37.249 --> 00:02:40.582 So, next week, I just come in and play.